Dr. Rachel O’Connell and TrustElevate: Cultivating a Child-Safe Online Environment through RegTech and Systemic Reform

The internet can be overwhelming to navigate at times. As the digital landscape continues to evolve in line with modern developments, security measures should be developed in parallel, especially for the safety of children. Thought leader and innovator Dr. Rachel O’Connell has committed decades of research to bring greater levels of scrutiny into the online arena. With regulatory enforcement coming into effect next year, she provides a range of indispensable solutions - including TrustElevate, the world’s first and only RegTech platform for verifying parental responsibility.

“GDPR and more recently introduced laws require companies to reliably know the ages of their users and obtain consent before processing data.” says Dr. Rachel, “ Next (LON:NXT) year will be pivotal for online safety and finalizing best practices. The time for talk is over and regulatory pressures are escalating, making age verification increasingly vital.”

The first step in the compliance journey is to have the necessary laws and regulations drafted and passed by the relevant legislative bodies. This ensures a clear and enforceable legal framework is in place. In 2018, The British Standards Institution recruited Dr. Rachel to author the BSI technical standard: the Age Checking Code of Practice, which detailed a privacy-preserving methodology for age verification. This standard is currently playing a significant role in the development of an ISO (international standard) known as the ISO 27566 Age Assurance Framework – representing the far-reaching and fundamental nature of Dr. Rachel’s work.

While completing her PhD in Forensic Psychology, Dr. Rachel produced a doctoral thesis analyzing the prevalence and implications of predatory online behavior. Upon unearthing the alarming realities of the subject, she sought to lead global, systemic change. From researching exploitative activity online, Dr. Rachel went on to establish the UK’s first internet safety center, funded by the European Commission, to develop educational programs for children.

She continues: “It was abundantly clear to me that more could be done in this space – so I decided to develop my insights by entering into the industry, myself.”

Dr. Rachel soon began working as the Chief Security Officer at Bebo and became the fifth member to join the organization. Alongside governments, lawmakers, and regulators, she developed a set of social networking principles designed to introduce necessary guidelines in an era of self-regulation. Throughout her diverse and comprehensive experience, she remained committed to a singular mission: to help cultivate a safer online environment, with greater protections for children.

“We needed to start putting material strategies into place.” adds Dr. Rachel, “We needed to be able to verify when someone claims to be the parent of a child and we needed to do it in a way that was fundamentally, privacy-preserving.”

To turn this vision into a reality, Dr. Rachel partnered with TechElevate’s technical co-founder. Together, they combined years of industry and regulatory knowledge with leading technology, to pioneer a novel platform for user verification.

Today, TechElevate stands as a leading provider of RegTech solutions, equipping individuals and businesses with the necessary tools to safeguard children online. Companies using TrustElevate services include Swoperz.com and GenWe.today. These companies represent the next generation of startups seeking to comply with regulations and respect children's rights online.

Rooted in research-based experience and first-hand industry insights, Dr. Rachel’s approach offers more than just a solution, but a conscious investment into a safer, more compliant future. Continuing her dedicated work in this space, she seeks to raise awareness of the dangers that put children at risk each day, while empowering adults to reclaim their parental responsibility.